Rods -- I prefer fast action rods with a progressive taper.  They should be stiff in the butt section and then bend consistently down to the tip.  I don't like rods that are stiff in the butt and mid section and then that have whippy tips.  Fast action is important because the rod needs to have enough backbone to pick up lots of line and also to punch tight loops into the wind.  For Texas, an 8 wt rod is probably the best overall choice.

 

 

Here are my favorite 8 wt rods in order of preference:  Sage 890-4 TCR (brand new, ultra-fast, progressive, casts like a rocket, not for everyone because will be hard for inexperienced casters to load), Sage 890-3 RPLX (not made anymore, fast action, progressive), Scott 908/3 S3S (brand new, fast action, progressive), Sage 890-4 XP (fast action, but tip is a little soft), and Scott 890/3 STS (the STSs are fast action with progressive tapers, but the 8 wt is the weakest rod in the series -- I think it is just a little soft compared to the awesome 10 and 11 wt STSs).  Sage replaced the RPLX, which was a great series, with the RPLXi, which I don't like because the tips are too soft.  The Sage XP series is good but the tips are a bit soft.  Loomis makes rods that cast great (any GLX rod) but they have the reputation for being delicate and breaking more often than others; however, they do have a new series called the Cross-Current which is getting a lot of good press.  I wouldn't buy a GLX because they use single-foot guides, and I don't think they will stand up well with hard use.  The Cross-Current uses standard snake guides.

 

Reels -- For tarpon, permit and bonefish, I think a cork drag is important (smoothness, low start-up inertia, stopping power), and in this area, the only two brands to consider are Tibor and Abel.  Billy Pate is the old standard, but these other two brands are better.  They are tough, low maintenance and will last a lifetime.  Only issue is they are extremely expensive.  For Texas, these reels are overkill.  I would recommend Ross, probably the Cimarron series.

 

 

Fly lines -- Weight forward, floating for just about everything.  Personal favorite -- Cortland 444 Lazerline Tropic Plus.  Some makers I think are making their fly lines a little on the heavy side of the standards (it may say 8 wt but it is really an 8.5, or maybe even a 9, according to the AFTMA standards).  Scientific Anglers Mastery series is good, but I think the lines are a bit heavy according to the standards.

 

Keep in mind that my preferences probably will not be helpful to a beginner.  Fast action rod with a true to standard fly line may be hard to cast.  That person would be better off with a slower rod and/or heavier fly line.

 

C. Pena, Esq. and avid fly fisherman

 

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